The award honors organizations and individuals that "dedicate themselves to defending human and civil rights; religious freedom; and provide humanitarian, spiritual or physical relief to those in need."

As the 19th recipient of this prestigious award, B'nai B'rith International became the first non-Hellenic organization to be honored.

In choosing B’nai B’rith for this honor, AHEPA specifically cited the organization’s work providing affordable housing for the elderly and humanitarian efforts to enhance development in the eastern Mediterranean countries of Israel, Cyprus and Greece, which is of utmost interest to the American Hellenic and American Jewish communities.Both organizations participated in a historic three-country visit to Israel, Cyprus and Greece in January, the strategic and emerging relationship between the three countries.